The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, has backed down from an American-style policy that forbade the media from covering the return of the coffins of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

It didn't seem to bother Mr Harper when his critics in the House of Commons accused him of copying the US president, George Bush, in keeping footage of coffins returning to Canada off the nightly news, or when news organisations assailed him for restricting their access.

But grieving parents who criticised the government during their children's funerals appear to have had an impact.

Parents like Tim Goddard, whose 26-year-old daughter Captain Nichola Goddard died during heavy fighting with Taliban guerrillas. During a eulogy at her funeral on Thursday, Mr Goddard said he was troubled by the Conservative government's decision not to allow the press to cover the repatriation ceremony marking the return of her coffin to Canada. Ms Goddard was the 16th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since 2002 and the first female combat soldier to die in battle.

"I would like to think that Nichola died to protect our freedoms, not to restrict them," her father said.

Early in May, at another funeral, Lincoln Dinning showed a video of his 23-year-old son's body being repatriated.

"Now I'd like to show you some of the video that Mr Harper wouldn't let you see: close-up of Matthew's arrival home," he told 2,000 mourners.

Another parent, Jane Wilson, whose son died after a vehicle accident in Afghanistan in March, said Mr Harper told her during a meeting that the policy was designed to reduce the public's focus on the number of soldiers that had been killed. In the US, the Pentagon doesn't allow coverage of caskets returning to American soil, a policy that was imposed at the beginning of the Iraq war, and one President Bush supports.

Polls suggest that Canadians are uneasy with the mission of the more than 2,000 troops now in Afghanistan, which involves both active combat and humanitarian work. Mr Harper is a strong supporter of the mission, which Canada undertook to show its commitment to fighting terrorism after refusing to join the US-led coalition in the war in Iraq. The House of Commons recently voted to extend the mission to 2009.

But, as Mr Harper may have realised, it is probably better for his re-election chances if Canadians don't hear regular criticism of his government at the funerals of men and women who have sacrificed their lives serving in the country's armed forces.

The war took a decided turn for the worst this spring, and US officials have been surprised by the strength of the Taliban. There are fears the central government is losing control of the country. Roadside and suicide bombings have increased dramatically.

Late last week, after Capt Goddard's funeral, Mr Harper told reporters he would allow the families of fallen soldiers to decide if the media could attend the repatriation ceremonies.

This is a return to the way the Canadian military has handled these ceremonies for years. If the families want privacy, they can have it. But if they feel as if they want the country to mourn with them - as many do - they can invite the television cameras in.